New Rules Proposed to Limit Airline 'Seat Locking'

Domestic flights in China will be required to make at least 70 percent of economy class seats available for free selection, according to a draft rule released by the China Air Transport Association on Wednesday.

The draft rule, open for public feedback for one month, aims to regulate "seat locking" practices that have frustrated travelers, Jiemian News reported.

For international and regional flights, the minimum ratio of free selectable seats is set at 65 percent.

Airlines must categorize economy seats into "free selectable" and "reserved" types. Reserved seats are further divided into operational needs (such as for safety officers or emergency exits) and value-added services.

Notably, the draft explicitly bans cash-paid seat selection for domestic flights, allowing paid options only for international and regional routes.

The proposal also mandates that airlines clearly display seat categories – such as "free," "member-only," or "unavailable" – during booking and check-in to prevent misleading information.

It also calls for a clear timeline for releasing reserved seats to avoid holding them until the last minute.

The move follows increasing complaints about airlines locking preferred seats – such as those in front rows or near windows – to drive revenue through fees or membership perks.

In November, the Jiangsu Consumer Council summoned 10 major airlines, including China Eastern and China Southern, to address issues related to excessive seat locking and opaque fees.